THE 'OMNISCIENT' SAI BABA’S MASSIVE IGNORANCE OF ATOMIC PHYSICS EXPOSED
The following point-by-point rebuttal of
Sai Baba's amazingly ignorant twaddle (and near-miraculous ability for drawing
conclusions that do not follow) about the atom, physics etc. is based on the
verbatim translation of the premsai website's version
of SB's discourse on Guru Purnima, 2002. (The text
also appears in an edited-down version in Sanathana Sarathi - August
2002). This piece was sent to me by a gentleman from
“There
is Divinity in every atom. Another name for the atom is God. From the time
he was born until he died, Kaanaada
contemplated on the atom saying, “Paramanu,
paramanu,
paramanu
(meaning, ‘the smallest particle’).” This world could not be seen if the
atom didn’t exist.” The
atom is not the smallest particle by far. “Earlier
there was no form at all in the universe.” Before
the Big Bang, it does not make sense to speak about time. Space-time as we
understand it is the same thing. “There
was no sun or moon, no sky or earth and no stars -- nothing at all. All
was pitch darkness. However, atoms came very densely together. Due to them
coming together, there was intense heat generated.” Physics
has demonstrated that in the hypothetical environment of the big bang at
the very beginning it was impossible for atoms to be
formed. It
does not matter how close atoms are, heat is not generated. In the nuclei
of the atoms of some elements there is potential energy that can be
released through fusion or fission. “Due
to this heat, an enormous sound came about.” There
can be no sound in the vacuum “Then
only this pitch darkness became pieces and pieces. It went on spreading.
This only is the root cause for Creation. This is the experience that
happened to Kaanaada.” Up
to now the Big Bang is just a theory, but there are still some others on
the table. “This
means that all of these densely combined atoms broke apart and spread
everywhere. The sound of that breaking is Pranava,
Omkara,
which is the Primordial sound. This only is the original and first sound.
This Pranava
is present everywhere. What did this Pranava
arise from? It began from atoms. There is nothing else except
atoms.” There
are many more things than atoms, like neutrinos (some scientists think
that they account for the majority of the mass of the universe), energy
(photons, X rays, gamma rays, microwave radiation, light, etc), loose
particles (electrons, protons, muons,
etc), space-time, etc. “What
is the way to attain it? Kaanaada
investigated into that subject. Finally he realised that, “It is only one
sound. It is the first sound.” Again,
sound needs a vehicle to propagate. Some scientific evidence suggests that
some microwave radiation is a residue of the Big
Bang. “He
taught such a truth to the world. Only after the sound of Omkar
began, the sun, moon, earth, sky and stars all
arose.” Stars
are forming all the time,
the Sun is a second generation star. There is strong evidence also that
many stars have planets revolving them. That does not have anything to see
with sound. “The
root cause for this whole Creation is only the atom. So, every human being
is the combination of atoms. A body without atoms and a form without atoms
cannot be seen. Man is never trying to recognize such a nature of the
atom.” What
we see are not the atoms but the light (photons) that comes from
them. “People
only put the statue, the forms of the supreme rishis
of these days, in front of a town and they show it as a symbol. That is
not right for us. We should make those sacred forms safe and secure on the
seat of our heart. Man, who should make it safe and secure in this way, is
instead putting it to bad use with ridicule and
neglect.” How
he can make such a broad assertion? BTW I have never seen the statue of
any rishi
in any town. “However,
when did this happen? Which time was Kaanaada
from? Twenty thousand years ago, people in the world used to speak so much
about the subject of Kaanaada.
He recognized the subject of hydrogen and oxygen.” In
which part of the world?
“Hydrogen
and oxygen are equal to a sort of fire. Fire enters into one of them, and
the other one extinguishes the fire. This is a truth that scientists
recognize.” Hydrogen
is the main fuel for the stars, it is also the fuel for the big rockets,
oxygen is essential for combustion They
propagated that the atom should be recognized through
atoms.” He
would need to explain this further because, as stated, it is completely
nonsensical. “How
can atomic power be recognized? The eyes cannot see it. Where is it? It is
in the food that is eaten. It is in the sights that are seen. It is in the
words that you speak. It is in the steps that are walked. It is present
everywhere. Walking
on that, eating that, drinking that, experiencing that – yet that is being
forgotten by men of today.” Atomic
power was seen in the Second World War. “People
feel this atomic power is separate from man and they have kept it aside in
a scientific way. However, the atomic process is very sacred. Yet, people
feel that it is lowly. Kaanaada
said that it would be possible to realise God through this
process.” If
that is so, then how, please explain.... “This
is, as long as the sound of Soham
remains, this (the body) has respect. That only is the sound of OM. That
only is atomic energy. The power and capabilities of this atom has come
from God, but no other has created it. Kaanaada
taught to the world this Truth in those days.” What
happens then to the atoms of the dead body? “Human
beings respect the body as long as it exists. After the true and
primordial power leaves this body, no one will desire it. All of this is
the power of the atoms. No one can understand the nature of the atom. The
form of the atom is the form of God. The form of the atom is the form of
the universe. The form of the atom is the form of space. The form of the
atom is the form of sound. The atom is fully present in everything that is
mobile and immobile. So, we should not take the form of the atom as a
joke. This form of atom is very great.” Again,
what happens with the atoms of the dead body, the atoms of the bacteria,
of the blood, etc? “Since
so long, scientists experimented on this. 22,000 crores
years (one crore
is ten million) are needed for the atom to reach again where it
originated. If it takes so much time, why shouldn’t we realise the atom
that is within us?” Atoms
are formed in very violent environments and in the cores of the stars,
like the singularity that took place, if the big bang theory is
true. “The
earth revolves around itself. Then it also goes around the sun. Who is
revolving it? Why is it revolving? Who is revolving it? No one is trying
to recognize this truth. The entire world has day and night due to its
revolving around itself. All
the food and recreation that this body need is obtained due to the earth
going around the sun (thus producing the seasons).
All of these are not meaningless aspects of Creation. The Will of God is
creating all of these causes. All of these are regulations made for the
world.” SB
shows a total lack of understanding of the General Relativity theory of A.
Einstein. “Till
today no one has understood the sacred power of the atom. People think
that the atom is only a phenomenon without a life force. The power of life
that created this entire world is also in the atom. Hence, God is the
embodiment of the microcosm and the macrocosm. Therefore, every human
being should try to recognize the secret of the world and of the creation
of man, and recognize what is his duty and act
accordingly.” What
does the understanding of the atom have to do with recognisation
of one's duty? “What
man should recognize is the form of the atom. If the atom is understood,
man will be one who understands everything. The atom only is God. That
only is true humanness. That only is the life principle. The life
principle within the atom is moving about throughout the
world.” Then
according to this statement, some scientists are totally
illumined. “However,
how should one take hold of it? The process of the microcosm has to be
undertaken. This is what Kaanaada
said. He said that when this (the process of the microcosm) is followed,
it would be possible for us to receive (realise) the principle of
Divinity.” And
just because Kaanada
said it, then it is true?
“Look
-- an atom is going there. We may go around it. If we wait around for it
and if we proceed (to follow it) with concentration, it will be caught by
us. We may catch hold of any amount of atoms every moment. You just held
so many. If they are let loose, they go (spread) wherever you look (all
over). The sound of OM and the sound of an atom are as small as the atom.
The nature of the mind is also dependent on
this.” SB
is rather confused between atoms and molecules and solid and fluid states.
In perfect vacuum what would happen according to
him? “In
the evening when I was giving the Valedictory Address, I didn’t even know
what I was saying.” How
come that the powerful SB did not know what he was
saying?? “However,
I went inside. I lay down. The prayers of all the devotees came in big
clusters. (Applause) “Swami,
...
Selfishness cannot be seen in Me from My toenail to the tips of My hair.
(Applause) Therefore, there is (I have) the courage and authority
to say, “I and you are One.” And
what about the atom??
“Therefore,
the power of the atom is the same in every human being. This atomic power
should also be understood to some extent. From our ancient times, we
continue worshipping and meditating on a form and we are living life with
it. Those also have arisen out of atoms.” “We
keep a statue and pray, “Rama!”
However, where is that Rama?
Not at all there! We say, “ Then
if we worship something, that something exists??
“However,
our qualities (feelings) are narrow. Due to man of today keeping a narrow
heart, all is seen as empty. Broad feeling is creation. Narrow feeling is
death. So as long as narrow feelings are in us, we are equal to one who is
dead. We should always develop broad feelings. A broad heart should be
developed. Vast Divinity will come in that broad heart. From ancient
times, numerous great rishis
did many different sadhanas.
Kaanaada
did very great sadhana.
Finally he said, “There is nothing else at all. I came from the atom. I
should merge again in the atom.” This means that, as he didn’t have body
attachment; he merged in the atom.” How
can one merge in the atom?? “Today
in the world, humanity lives by joining with all the objects in the world.
It is living with selfishness and self-interests. As long as this exists,
we cannot understand at all the nature of the atom, which is Divine.
Sadhana
may be done, meditation may be done, japa
may be done and puja
may be done. There is nothing wrong in it. However, just don’t forget the
nature of the atom. Everything is in the atom. Hence, we should feel that
the nature of the atom is within oneself. Our body is (contains) the atom.
Mind is atom. Intellect is atom. Chittha
is atom. Antahkarana
is atom. All are completely atoms. That which is full of atoms is
Divinity.” The
mind is beyond matter so how come that it is formed of atoms, which
kind? “God
listens to prayers without fail. However, a few people think, “Oh dear! By
praying to God, we might be giving trouble to God.” This is a big mistake.
God never has any difficulty. God never will suffer. The bliss of the
devotees is the bliss of God. Therefore, there is no difference at all
between your bliss and My
bliss. However, you get bliss through lowly objects. I am experiencing joy
with objects as small as atoms. (Applause) So, if you give anything
small, I consider it very big. However, though you get something huge, you
won't get so much bliss.” What
about the huge donations? Most visitors
do not get anything and they pay for the services.
“Truly,
what does Guru Purnima
mean? It shows the path, the Divine path, to us. ‘Purnima’
means ‘the sacred radiance of the full moon’. What is the full moon? It is
the completely full nature of the mind. The completely full nature of the
mind, without any spots at all, is observed as the full moon. When the
mind has any spot, it is darkness; it won't give
bliss.” The
moon has many spots, the sun has many spots, so
to what does he refer? “Develop
your nature of Love -- the nature of the pure mind, which gives radiance.
Acquaintance with books, reading, reading, reading and reading
grandha
(books), finally even the gandha
(essence) in you dies. Even when a small amount is read, we feel that we
are highly educated. All the knowledge that you studied is not great. It
is a minute particle in the atom.” Again,
what does knowledge have to do with the atom? “Therefore,
God cannot be seen in (worldly or bookish) knowledge. We can’t see God
through hugeness or bulk. We can’t see God through position. God cannot be
seen through leadership. God can only be seen in Love. If you develop even
a bit of that nature of Love, you will see God in that. Devotion only
means to have full and complete Love for God. That is
devotion.” And
what about the subject of the talk? “Today
is Guru Purnima.
What is it that we should truly know? That which is in front, behind,
below, above and everywhere is God. He is in you, with you, around you.
So, He is in you. He is outside you and He is behind you. Truly, who are
you? You only are God! (Applause) He is the form of an atom. First
and foremost, recognize that Truth.
… Hiranyaksha
and Hiranyakasipu
also were ones of very great capabilities. They were great scientists.
Hiranyakasipu
not only went to the moon; he also went to the sun. Not only the sun,
he
also reached the stars. When he went to star Dhruva
and touched it, the earth spun. With that he suffered. Though he was such
a great scientist, things should be done only as much as is needed; but if
it is in excess, a very big danger will happen.” How
come that we have not get any of their legacies? And
the temperature at a Star surface is very hot (in our Sun's should be at
least 6000 degrees Centigrade! “Therefore,
there is death for the physical body of man, but the mind has no death.
There is no death for the mind at all. Though the man (his body) dies, the
feelings that the person felt are imprinted on the mind. The tendencies of
so many births and the tendencies from so many actions are printed on this
mind.” It
is not possible to say that this mind is ‘like this or that’. Therefore,
we should not feel that the mind will die along with this life (of the
physical body). No matter how many births there are, the mind is God. This
mind contains atoms. We should not feel that the nature of the mind, which
contains atoms, dies. How
come that the mind has atoms and the atoms give life? But
the body that really has atoms dies! “Numerous
people, unable to bear their sufferings, take their own life. People
think, “It is only due to the mind that there is so much suffering,
isn't it so? I will kill this mind.” However, this is a big sin. You are
not killing the mind. You feel that your Divinity is like that. We should
not have any resolve of suicide. Atma
is God. God is Atma.
Prahlada
said, ‘Don't have the doubt that, ‘He is in this and not in
that’.” When
SB gives diamonds (fake or real) he usually says, "Die
mind" “Forget
the feelings towards worldly objects (materialistic tendencies). All of
these are worldly.” But
they are also full of atoms! |
Dear honest
friends, Nothing is so deflating as to give cause to
become the unwitting object of laughter, and therefore one almost has to be
sorry for this fellow with the secondary-school education from which he
supposedly emerged as all-knowing! Though this seems to ridicule SB, it really
only points out how ridiculously he ‘teaches’ sometimes. SB is not above
ridiculing people, both in general and in interviews… so he should be able to
take it too! As the writer of the comments above remarked,
“…he used to ridicule devotees
frequently. I remember once that one student friend of mine told me how SB was
in a bus and some devotees outside were saying loudly, "Sai Baba, Sai Baba...",
and his reply was "Donkeys, donkeys..." But with discourses like this one he
also shows how much of a donkey he is. “
His struggles in the above to stick to
his chosen subject - atoms and more atoms to impress the punters - by having to
keep going and reeling anything off the top of his head, and somehow to
introduce and beat to death his favourite hobby-horses with codswallop, is
pathetic. If it were not for what else he does and pretends, if it were not for
all the lives he ruins and half-ruins (a subject no one in his favour likes to
talk about), we would leave this clown to his own sub-intellectual devices in
his divinely-decorated dunce's corner. Alas, the time when we could let it pass
have gone, unfortunately, but then it is not our fault at all!